Moses Itauma delivered a message when he smashed aside Jermaine Franklin in five rounds – he's ready for the best in the heavyweight division.
American contender Franklin, who'd previously gone the distance with Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte, was supposed to be a test for the 21-year-old British hope.
Instead Franklin couldn't find answers to the questions Itauma posed for him. The young Briton's in-and-out footwork, astute feints and dazzling hand speed left him confounded.
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The devastating uppercut that snuffed out his resistance was the final, finishing touch to a consummate performance.
Itauma is now ready, willing and able to box anyone in the division. However the big-name heavyweights, the elder statesmen of the division, unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, aren't expected to fight him before they retire from the sport.
"That's probably a question for Usyk to answer. Me I'm just chipping away with trying to get through the rankings and trying to get a crack at a world title," Itauma told Sky Sports.
But, with his performance against Franklin establishing him as a leading contender in the division, Itauma believes Usyk, Fury and Joshua should want to fight him.
"They should, but they don't," Itauma said.
He though wouldn't hesitate. If the opportunity presented itself, he'd box Usyk, the best heavyweight in the sport today.
"If he ever wants to make that fight happen of course, I'll be 100 per cent down for it," Itauma said.
Itauma will become the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight championship, the belt that Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois will fight for next month.
Wardley and Itauma are gym-mates and so a title clash with Dubois appeals more to Itauma.
Both Wardley and Dubois were ringside observers for Itauma's devastating victory over Franklin.
"I don't think they're worried. I think they're both like 'Oh [wow]. This guy's in my division,'" Itauma said.
"I think deep inside they probably both had the same reaction. I think Fabio managed to, I guess, hide it a bit better."
As for fighting the Wardley-Dubois victor next, Itauma said: "If Fabio wins then it'll be sticky but if Dubois wins, then that fight makes sense.
"So we'll see."
Watch Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper this Sunday live on Sky Sports.
